Tubing catcher



July 23, 1935. A. J. COLMERAUER TUBING CATCHER Filed Jan. 29, 1954 3Sheets-Sheet 1 July 23, 19 35.

' A. J. COLMERAUER TUBING CATCHER Filed Jan. 29, 1934 3 SheetsSheet 2July 23, 1935. A. J. COLMERAUER 2,009,164

TUBING CATCHER Filed Jan. 29, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z3 99 f gm &Inventor l By M 7 Allorneys Patented July 23, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE TUBING CATCHER 7 Andrew .lr Colmerauer, Iios'Angeles, Calif., as-

signor to Byron Jackson (30., Los Angeles, Calif a corporation ofDelaware, 1 Application'January 29, 1934, Serial No. 708,324

10 Claims. (Chloe-s19) This invention relates to tubing catchers and hasparticular reference to. a device for autoe matically arresting theiallof, oil well tubing by expanding the device to cause the same to gripthe wall of the well casing, through which the tubing passes, with awedging action.

Automatic tubing catchers as heretofore made have been characterized bythe use of a com pressed spring or springs supporting all or a part ofthe weight of the wedge shaped slip members when the Wedges are in theinoperative position.

In the event that the tubing should drop unexpectedly, the eiiect of theforce of gravity keeping the slips in the retracted or inoperativeposition is lessened and the force exertedby the compressedspringbecomes effective to prevent the slips from dropping as rapidlyasthe slip seats, thereby causing the slips to ride up on their seatsand engagethe well casing with a wedging action, thus arresting the fallof the tubing. An illustration of one such tubing catcher now in commonuse may be seen in United States Patent No. 1,921,547, issued August8th, 1933, to N. K. Smith and R. K. I-Iertel. In this type of tubingcatcher with the weight of slips supported .on a'coilspring, it isobvious that the catcher will be ,rather long because of the end-to-endposition of the spring andslips.

Some oil wells contain bent casing in which it is difficult to run along tubing catcher which, oi necessity, must be but little smaller indiameter than the inside diameter of the well casing.

Attempts have been made heretofore to make short catchers to overcomethedifficulityset forth in the preceding paragraph. One suchconstruction for short catchers has been to eliminate the spring whichsupports the slips, as is shown in United States Patent No. l,706,779,issued March 26th, 1929, to H. 'E. [Grau and A. J. Colmerauer.

The trouble with such catchers is that, lacking a spring, they cannotalways be depended upon to operate 'successfullyin case of an unexpecteddrop.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a short tubingcatcher having spring actuated slips. Y

Another object is to provide a tubing catcher having spring actuatedslips, but in which the weight of the slips is not directly supported by50 the spring.

Another catcher therein depicted comprises a tubular nipple l threadedat each end to receive pipe enlarged head 4' which maybe an integralpart of catcher shown having three such seats. Each of object is toprovide a tubing catcher in which each slip is actuatednby. a separateof tubing catcher in accordance with. my inventionin which the springsare positioned behind the slips; V

Fig. 2 is an elevation view, partly in section, of the same device shownin Fig. 1, taken at a 10 different angle; Y

Fig. 3 is'a cross section of the device-taken in the plane IIIIII ofFig. 2; I Fig. 4; is a cross section taken in the IV IV of'Fig. 2; Y

Fig. 5 is an elevation view of a modified form of tubing catcher inwhich the slip actuating springs are mounted below the slips;

Fig. Gis an elevation View, partly in section, of the same device shownin'Fig. 5*taken from a plane different angle;

Fig. '7 an elevation view of still another modification of the inventionin which a spiral spring is employed with a rein to actuate the s p: r r25 Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view showing the construction of thecatcher illustrated in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an elevation view of still another em-- bodiment of theinvention, in which the slip is suspended from a spring actuated-rein;and

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view illustrating the construction of thetubing catcher shown in elevation in Fig. 9. i

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the tubing couplings 2 and 3,respectively, which are'adapted to connect the tubing catcher'into astring of tubinghnotshcwn. The'nipple i is provided with an the nippleor may be a separate member, as shown, wldedor otherwise rigidly securedto the nipple. The head 4 is provided with one or more, and preferablythree or four, tapered seats 5; the

the seats has its surface taperedinwardly-and downwardly. The taperedsurfaces of the seats may have any desired configuration although I havechosen to show the arrangement more fully set forth in United StatesPatent No. 1,921,547, as 50. it permitsthe use of slips having a greaterlength and greater gripping area than other arrangements. The principalfeature of this construe:- tion is that the seats 5 aretapered bothinwardly and downwardly,the angle of taper being such that the length ofthat portion of the seat indicated at :v in Fig. 2 intersects the outersurface of the nipple I so that the lower ends 6 of the seats extendaround the outer surface of the nipple.

Each of the seats 5 is adapted to receive a wedge shaped slip 'I havingan arcuate outer face provided with serrations or teeth 3 adapted toengage the inner surface of a well casing. Each slip has at its lowerend an inwardly and downwardly inclined outer surface 9 which seatsagainst a complementary inclined surface I0 formed in the head of thecatcher. The upper end of each slip is provided with means for retainingthe slip from falling completely out of the seat comprising, in thepresent instance, an upwardly extending finger I I having a pair oflaterally extending lugs I2 which engage a recess in an actuator I5 tobe described. Associated with each slip is a flat bow spring I3 adaptedto bear against the inner face of the slip to normally urge the slipoutwardly against a well casing. For convenience and to save space, Iprefer to provide each slip with a longitudinal recess I I in the rearface thereof to receive the bow spring I3. The lower end of spring I3bears against an abutment 22 formed on the lower inner face of the slipand the upper end of the spring is supported and bowed by the actuatorI5.

Actuator I5 is a tubular member adapted to slide up and down on thenipple I and is provided with relatively thick walls to give itconsiderable weight. The slips I are individually connected to theactuator I 5 by means of the fingers I I having the lugs l2 thereon,which lugs are supported in enlarged recesses I6 in the actuator, whichrecesses are at the ends of the slots I I which receive the fingers II.This provides a loose connection between the slips and the actuator sothat the slips can move outwardly from the nipple as they ride up on theslip seats. The actuator is provided with slots I8 aligned with theslots I1 but higher up on the actuator to receive the ends of'thesprings I3, which ends are 'bent outwardly as shown at I9. In order tobow the springs I3 whereby they exert an outwardly directedforce uponthe lower ends of the slips, the vertical passages 2| in the actuatorI5, through which the springs pass, have their lower rear walls spacedoutwardly from the nipple I to provide abutments 2Ia which serve asfulcrums for the springs I3, the lower ends of the springs bearingagainst the abutments 22 on the slips and the upper ends bearing againstthe actuator just below the slots I8. It will be apparent that withthe'construction described the springs are held at their'upper ends andbowed outwardly at their lower ends, whereby they press outwardlyagainst the abutments 22 on the lower ends of the slips. When the deviceshown'in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 is to be used as an automatic tubingcatcher, it is connected in a string of tubing in the usual manner andlowered into the well. Under normal conditions the slips I remain intheir lower and innermost positions, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, sincealthough the springs I3 are under tension, the weight of the slips andactuator is sufficient to prevent the springs from pushing the slips upalong the tapered seats I0 and out against the well casing. However, ifthe tubing should part above the catcher or drop unexpectedly, thepressure of theslips and actuator against the seat I0 isreducedsuficiently (as a result of the downward acceleration of the catcher) topermit the springs [3 to force the slips up and outwardly along thetapered seats I0 and into engagement with the well casing, therebysetting the catcher.

Although the invention has been disclosed in an automatic catcher, it isto be understood that by suitable modifications it can be used to anchorthe tubing by providing the catcher shown with an anchor mechanism ofany well known type. Thus the catcher shown in the drawings willaccommodate the-type of anchor shown in Patent No. 1,921,547, whichanchor comprises a set of bow springs positioned between upper and lowercollars slidably mounted on a lower extension to the nipple I. The bowsprings are adapted to drag in the well casing. The upper collar isprovided with a series of upstanding fingers adapted to engage adownwardly depending finger 23 (Figs. 1 and 2) at the bottom of eachslip. The catcher is provided with a skirt 24 which is rigidly securedto the nipple I and may be an integral part of the head 4, as shown. Theskirt 24 is provided with a series of alternating grooves 25 and pockets25. The grooves 25 receive the fingers 23 on the slips. The pockets 26are adapted to receive the upstanding fingers on an anchor of the typedescribed in the aforementioned patent when the anchor is in theinoperative position. To anchor the catcher, as equipped with an anchorof the type referred to, the tubing would be raised a few inches,rotated to the left a portion of a turn and then lowered. This actionwould move the upstanding fingers of the anchor out of the pockets 26and into the grooves 25 where they would be operative to push the slipsup into engagement with the well casing. It is to be understood that anyother suitable form of anchor may be used in place of that described,the anchor forming no part of this invention.

The tubing catcher disclosed i'nFigs. 5 and 6 is in general similar tothat described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4. Thus, it comprises anipple 30 having a head 3| rigidly attached thereto and an actuator 32slidably mounted on the nipple below the head 3|. Slips 33 are mountedin seats in the head 3| substantially as described in connection withFigs. 1 to 4. In this instance, howeventhe slips are slidably held attheir upper ends in dovetailed grooves 34, thereby restraining the upperends. of the slips from'move ment outwardly away from their seatswhilepermitting free outward movement of the lower ends of the slips. InFigs. 5 and 6 the slips 33 are connected to the actuator 32 by flatsprings 35 which also serve as connecting reins between the actuator andthe slips. Thus the upper end of each spring 35 is coiledaround a pivotpin 35 on the lower end of the associated slip and the lower end issecured between an outer abutment 31 and an inner abutment 31apositioned thereabove on the actuator 32. The reins are secured againstvertical movement with respect to the actuator by turning out the lowerends of the springs, which ends engage in recesses 38 provided there forin the actuator. It will be observed that the springs 35 exert aconstant outward force on the lower end of each slip, which force isnormally resisted by the abutment 39 on the head which bears against thedownwardly and inwardly tapered face 40 on the slip. However, downward"acceleration of the catcher reduces the force and gravity acting uponthe slips and actuator, thereby permitting the slips to be movedupwardly and outwardly by the springs 35.

The embodiment shown in Figs. '7 and 8 is very similar to that justdescribed in connection with Figs. 5 and 6. It differs therefromessentially only in the manner in which the upper ends of the slips arerestrain'ed'from outward movement and in the construction of the reinsand springs. Thus, it will be observed that the upper end of each slipisprovided with a finger 480. which is tipped outwardly at its upper endand normally engages an abutment ll on the head of the catcher. It willbe observed that upward movement of the slip permits the inclined outerface of the finger tea to slide outwardly and upwardly'past'the abutment41'."

The slip'and actuator connecting'mechanism shown in Figs. '7 and 8comprises reins 42, each of which is pivotally mounted at its lower endby a pin et to the actuator and is provided at its upper end with aprojection 4e, which engages apin 35 in the lower end or the associatedslip. Constant spring pressure is exerted on each rein 42 by anassociated coil spring 26 which'surrounds the pivot 33 on each side ofthe rain 42. The coil spring is provided at its center with a U-shapedarm ll which bears against the inner side of the associated rein, andthe free ends of the spring it are supported in grooves 48 providedtherefor in the actuator. The operation of the catcher shown in Figs. 7and 8 is substantially the same as that of the catcher described inconnection with Figs. 5 and 6. v I

Referring now to Figs. .9 and 10, a modification of the invention isdisclosed in which the individual slips are suspended from an actuatormounted thereabove by spring actuated reins. Thus, slips 5!] are mountedin slip seats on a head substantially as previously described but thelower ends of the slips are provided with fingers 5i which extend intorecesses 52 in the head and prevent outward movement of the lower end ofthe slip when the latter is in its lowermost position as shown. Eachslip 5% is provided adjacent its upper end with a recess 53 into whichhooks the lower'end of a rein 54, the upper end of which is hooked ontoa shoulder 55 in an actuator 56 slidably positioned upon the nipple 51above the head 58 in which the slips are mounted. Each rein 54 isnormally urged outwardly by a spiral spring 59 of the generalconstruction described in connection with Figs. 7 and 8.

In the construction described in Figs. 9 and 10,

each rein 5B is tensioned by its associated spring 553 so that it tendsto throw the upper end of the slip suspended thereon outwardly away fromthe slip seat. However, the spring tension is so proportioned that it isinsufiicient under normal con ditions to overcome the weight of the slipwhich, therefore, remains in its lower position as shown in the drawing.However, if the catcher is accelerated downwardly at a substantial rate,the apparent decrease in the weight of the slips is sufficient to permitthe springs 59 to deflect the upper ends of the slips outwardly intoengagement with the well easing, whereupon the slips engage the casingand anchor the tubing.

'Although the drawings disclose a weighted actuator attached to theslips, I wish to point out that in some instances the slips themselveswill be heavy enough without the added weight of an actuator to normallyhold them in an inoperative position against spring pressure. The wordactuator istherefore used to define a connecting member which moves allof the slips in unison and which may or may not be a weight member. Ifthe catcher is of the single slip type with a heavy slip, even aconnector is unnecessary.

It is to be understood that the essential feaspring means for urging theslip directly outwardly, means for maintaining said slip inwardlyagainst its seat when the slip is in lowermost position, said lastmentionedmea-ns releasing said slip for outward movement away from itsseat in response'to upward movement of said slip with respect to saidmember.

2. A tubing catcher as described in claim 1 in which said means formaintaing said slip inwardly against its seat comprises an upwardly andcut wardly inclined bearing face on the outer surface of said slip and acooperating element secured to said member for contacting said bearingface; 3. In a tubing catcher, a member adapted to be connected into andconstitute a-po'rtion of a string of tubing and having a plurality of upwardly and outwardly inclined slip seats positioned thereon, a slipslidable. longitudinally on each seat, an actuator slidably supported onsaid member and connected to said slips for vertical movement therewith,an individual spring means associated with each slip for urging thatslip directly outwardly away from its seat, means for maintaining saidslips in their inner positions against their seats when in lowermostposition, said last mentioned means releasing said slips for outwardmovement away from their seats in response to upward movement ofsaids'lips with respect to said member.

I 4. In a tubing catcher, a member adapted to be connected into andconstitute a portion of a string of tubing and having an upwardly andoutwardly inclined slip seat thereon, a slip slidable longitudinally onsaid seat, an actuator slidably supported on said member above said slipseat and connected to the upper end of said slip for vertical movementtherewith, spring means supported by said actuator and bearing againstthe lower end of said slip for directly urging the lower end of saidslip outwardly, means for main.- taining said slip inwardly against saidseat when the slip is in lowermost position, said last mentioned meansincluding a member bearing against the outer side of the lower end ofsaid slip, whereby the lower end of said slip is released for outwardmovement in response to said spring force upon upward movement of saidslip relative to said member.

5. A tubing catcher as described in claim 4 in,

which said spring means comprises a flat bow spring extending from theactuator down back of the slip and contacting with the slip only at itslower end. 7

6. In a tubing catcher, a member adapted to be connected into andconstitute a portion of a string of tubing and having an upwardly andinwardly against its seat when the slipis in its lowermost position andreleasing the lower end of the slip foroutward movement away from itsseat in response to upward movement of the slip along its seat.

7. A tubing catcher as described in claim 6 in which an actuator isslidably mounted on said member below said slip and in which said springmeans comprises a flat bow spring linking said slip to said actuator.

8. In a tubing catcher, a member adapted to be connected into andconstitute a portion of a string of tubing and having an upwardly andoutwardly inclined slip seat thereon, a slip slidable on said seat,spring means for urging said slip directly outwardly away from saidseat, and means for slidably holding the slip against its seat, theactive force exerted outwardly on'said slip by the said spring meansbeing normally opposed and balanced by the active force of gravity onsaid slip acting in conjunction with said means for slidably holding theslip against its seat, whereby said spring means moves said slipoutwardly in response to downward acceleration of said catcher in excessof a predetermined rate.

means against the lower portion of said slip seat when said slidablemeans is in lowermost position, spring means for urging said slipdirectly outwardly from said seat, and means for slidably holding theslip against its seat, said spring means exerting insufficient force tomove said slip away from said seat against the normal force of gravityon said slip acting in conjunction with said means for slidablyholdingthe slip against its seat but suflicient to move the slip outwardly whenthe gravitational force acting thereon is in part neutralized bydownward acceleration of said catcher in excess of a predetermined rate.

10. In a tubing catcher, a member adapted to be connected into andconstitute a portion of a string of tubing and having an upwardly andoutwardly inclined slip seat thereon, a slip slidable on said seat, anactuator slidably mounted on said member at a level vertically disposedfrom said slip seat, a link connecting said actuator to the adjacent endof said slip, said link including spring means for urging the slip endof said link directly outwardly, and means for slidably holding the slipagainst its seat, the active force exerted outwardly on said slip bysaid spring means and link being normally opposed and balanced by theactive force of gravity on said slip acting in conjunction with saidmeans for slidably holding the slip against its seat, whereby saidspring means moves said slip outwardly in response to downwardacceleration of said catcher in excess of a predetermined rate.

ANDREW J. COLMERAUER.

